Oz gov to test ‘all renewable’ options

Releases base data for public scrutiny

If you happen to be a data geek with an interest in renewable energy, it’s time to get busy on the download button: Australia’s federal government has released a raft of data that will form the basis of “100 percent renewable energy” scenario planning to be conducted by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).

As noted in The Conversation, the AEMO is to work with CSIRO and a private consultancy on the project. The government’s Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has released all of the data forming the initial assumptions of the project here.

The base data available include demand assumptions, solar PV installation data, modeling for future solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, power storage options like pumped hydro and hot salts, geothermal, wave energy modeling and more (mostly in Excel spreadsheets, with documentation in PDFs).

According to The Conversation, the government wants the study to be completed by May 2013, and is considering releasing the final models when they become available.

The aim of the study is to optimize the mix of renewable power sources, taking into account the available locations and technologies. ®